Police Director General Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa . (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – If he would have his way, Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa wanted that peace talks be finally concluded “to prevent more bloodshed from both sides” following the killings of four police officers in Bansalan town yesterday morning.
Speaking at a press briefing in Bansalan town Thursday noon, Dela Rosa was asked whether he would prefer the all out war, the resumption of talks or ceasefire. He said the peace talks should be concluded once and for all since the war has already claimed so many casualties.
“As I have said ayoko ng maraming mamatay kapwa Pilipino lang yan, kung sinsero sila sa side nila, alam ko sinsero din ang gubyerno, tapusin natin ito para wala nang mamatay (I do not want more Filipinos get killed. If they are sincere, and I know the government is sincere, let’s finish this so that there would be no more deaths),” Dela Rosa said.
He said for the peace talks to prosper both sides should be “sincere and determined.” Dela Rosa also said that the New People’s Army should not use the peace talks to build up their strength.
“Tapos pag nag-breakdown yung peace talks may lakas na naman sila na bumanat dahil nakapag-build up na sila ng kanilang pwersa. Eh nag-lolokohan tayo nyan pag ganun (Then once the peace talks breaks down, they can launch attacks because they have built their forces. If that’s the case, then we are just fooling each other),” said Dela Rosa.
Four police officers were killed in an ambush by suspected members of the New People’s Army Front Committee 51 around 7:30 am Wednesday. The police were responding to a report of a crime incident in Barangay Sibayan when they were attacked. Those killed were Police Officer 3 Jayden May Rabor of the Scene of the Crime Operatives in Digos City and PO1 Rholly Benelayo, PO1 Saro Mangotara and PO1 Joey Narvaza of the Bansalan Municipal Police Station.
Senior Superintendent Samuel Gadingan, Davao del Sur Provincial Police Director said they are still conducting investigation on the criminal case where two civilians were killed.
Although the NPA has not yet issued a statement on the incident, Dela Rosa said they are sure the NPA was responsible for the attack.
“Alangan namang MILF, wala namang MILF dito, NPA lang ang nandito,” he said.
Dela Rosa also said this is not the first time that police officers responding to a reported crime incident was attacked on the way.
He said government troops should learn their lessons and clear the area before deploying policemen.
Dela Rosa also said that the rebels want to send a message that they are still “a force to reckon with.”
He said the government has been claiming that the NPA has weakened and that a number of NPA fighters are surrendering, but the incident shows “they want to prove something.”
“That they are still a force to reckon with,” Dela Rosa said. (davaotoday.com)
